New business inquiries directed to EDC, which will work closely with city staff By David Webb Monitor Correspondent GUN BARREL CITY–The Gun Barrel City Council gave the Economic Development Corp. the responsibility of negotiating with new businesses following a lengthy debate Tuesday. The council approved a motion by Councilwoman Carol Calkins that City Manager Gerry […]

By Erik Walsh Monitor Sports Editor FORNEY–Mabank fans turned out in droves at the Forney High School gym Feb. 24, helping the first-seed Panthers basketball team defeat the fourth-seed Rains Wildcats 62-56 in the bi-district round of the playoffs. The Panthers had to deal with the difficult challenge of playing the majority of the game […]

Special to The Monitor PINNACLE CLUB–The Cedar Creek Lake community supported this year’s Pinnacle Women’s Club Garage Sale which enabled them to give donations to many organizations with their philanthropic endeavors. Organizations receiving donations at the January meeting included the Family Peace Project, Disciples Clinic of Athens and Faith In Action Outreach. The Family Peace […]

Holiday events and performances scheduled

Monitor File PhotoMabank third and fourth graders take a bow following their holiday performance last year.

By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
CEDAR CREEK LAKE–So many holiday events are planned around the lake this time of year, at least one of interest every week until Christmas. Here’s a list of many of them. Also be sure to check the paper’s News in Brief page for the latest additions to the list.
Everyone at The Monitor wishes you and yours a very bright and merry holiday season and reminds all that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.”
Sunday (today), is your last chance to catch a performance of “Grease, The Musical.” The Kemp High School Drama Department is presenting its final performance at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8/$5 and may be purchased at the door.
In case you are picking this issue up from a newsstand on Friday, you still have time to catch the holiday festivities for the 16th annual Christmas on the Square in Eustace. It includes a light parade at 6 p.m., performances at the gazebo and lighting of a Christmas tree decorated by students from the primary school.
Booths are set up around the square offering free snacks from hot cocoa to peppermint stick straws to suck lemon juice through. Yum! And of course visits with Santa.
The Rhythm Machine of 316 takes the gazebo stage for a few inspiring Christmas band compositions at 6:30 p.m.
This is followed with caroling by the Eustace Primary first and second graders, a must see and hear.
Saturday morning, Dec. 8, you could Breakfast with Santa at The Library of Cedar Creek Lake in Seven Points and while there donate a new, unwrapped gift to the Toys for Tots Drive in the parking lot.
Then, on to Mabank for the “Get Your Jingle On” craft fair, where the Mabank Intermediate is also collecting toys for the families of those benefitting from the Ronald McDonald House for sick children and their families.
At 7 p.m. Saturday, The First Baptist Church of Gun Barrel City is presenting its free annual Living Christmas Tree performance “Majesty of Heaven.” It performs again at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 (today).
On Monday, Dec. 10, holiday school performances begin with Central Elementary third and fourth grade students performing at 6:30 at the Mabank High School auditorium. Kemp High School will be hosting the All-Region band contest starting at 4 p.m.
On Tuesday, Dec. 11, there are three events scheduled for the same time, so you’ll have to choose which to attend.
Kemp’s seventh and eighth grade band holds its Christmas concert at 6:30 p.m. at the high school, as does Mabank’s beginning band, also at 6:30 p.m., but at the MHS auditorium. Also that night, the First Presbyterian Church in Mabank is holding a community gathering at 6:30 p.m. to sing Christmas carols in its beautiful new sanctuary that adds wonderful acoustic value to the 105-year-old church, located on Mt. Vernon Street.
On Thursday, Dec. 13, the Eustace school bands perform at the high school starting at 6:30 p.m., and Kemp beginning band is performing for the first time this year at 6:30 p.m. at the Kemp High School.
Friday, Dec. 14, all Mabank High School Choirs are performing their Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. in the MHS auditorium.
Also that evening, the city of Mabank and the Cedar Creek Lake Chamber of Commerce is holding an “Ol’ Fashion Christmas on Market Street” event, featuring live music, free snacks, a massive model train exhibit at city hall, The Dance Connection Nutcracker dancers, hayrides and a photo with Santa. The free event starts at 6 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m.
Hillcrest Baptist Church is holding its Community Christmas Lunch at noon Saturday, Dec. 15, at 909 N. Elm St. in Kemp.
Everyone is welcome. For more information, call (903) 498-4599.
Sunday, Dec. 16, young dancers from The Dance Connection in Mabank will present the Christmas classic, The Nutcracker in Kemp for either a 3 p.m. or a 6 p.m. performance. Call (903) 887-9999 to learn which time will be used and whether it will be performed at the high school auditorium or in the junior high cafeteria.
On Thursday, Dec. 20, two elementary schools are presenting Christmas pageants. Tool Elementary is mounting a musical production at the Providence Baptist Church, while the parking lot at the school is taken over by construction.
The children perform at 6 p.m. The church is located at 1016 Church Road, the west side off State Highway 274, turn at the triple crosses.
The youth of Lakeview Elementary are presenting their wonderful Christmas performance at the Mabank High School at 6:30 p.m.